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General Home & Garden

A showhouse kitchen designed with Bette Midler in mind (16 Photos)

April 10, 2018
Mister D

Traditional Home
Glorious Golden Kitchen
Written by Rhoda J. Murphy
April 4, 2018

 

One of the largest projects we have undertaken as a magazine was to stage the Traditional Home Built for Women Showhouse in New York City to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The showhouse hook: We invited leading interior designers to create beautiful interiors for influential women. The showhouse was a great financial success—we raised more than $260,000 for the Foundation. And it was a great design success too.

One of our favorite designers, Mary Douglas Drysdale, was asked to design a kitchen for the ever-fabulous singer and actress Bette Midler. As Midler is known for her impressive voice, Drysdale is known for her marvelous use of color and mix of classic elegance and modern comforts. Drawing from Midler’s talents and unique personality, Drysdale was inspired to create a kitchen with vibrant hues, eclectic art, and custom-designed comforts.

Photography: Gordon Beall

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Mary Douglas Drysdale
the kitchen needed to be like bette midler says drysdale warm but with a lot of sass drysdales color inspiration for the butlers pantry came after she painted the rusty old garden urn that is now its centerpiece
In the sitting area an orange chaise custom made for bette midlers five foot two frame telegraphs comfort The early 20th century steinway is the perfect place for her to practice her scales Patinated antiques abound the yellow chair is a 1750 massachusetts lolling chair the green prie dieu is a 250 year old french piece and the mantel dates to 1740
When drysdale first took on the project she asked herself how can i convey bettes spirit using my own vocabulary she reached for what she knew bestintoxicating color set against an 18th century foundation
Drysdale may joke about her blankets of glaze but they make the color more mellow to be truthful she admits i was worried about the intensity If you overstimulate visually you are no longer providing comfort
here an antique french mirror is poised above a custom drysdale console Late 19th century column capitals flank the mirrored wall in the foyer
Drysdale loves to develop undervalued real estate such as this wall segment where the drysdale designed neoclassic chair combines with two paintings to balance the pilasters on either side Wisps of swags dress the tall narrow windows with windows this wonderful why cover them she asks
The paneled cabinetry is as serious as the rooms corinthian columns but rather than employ the expected granite or marble on the countertops drysdale took a left turn and chose the favorite wood of antique loversmahogany In lieu of tile she used beadboard for the backsplash it conveys a traditional feeling without being precious she explains
drysdale designed the five foot long pot rack of iron copper and brass where antique pots and molds dangle like charms on a bracelet The cubbies display vintage crockery
A delicate stencil enlivened with hand painting decorates the dining area wall and hints of the strong color in the pantry beyond
As a respite from the zesty yellow drysdale painted the breakfast room an airy cooling blue a color inspired by a trio of caned 18th century italian neoclassic chairs The chairs blue paint inspired the color of the walls in the familydining room Above the table hangs abstraction an oil by arthur carles The iron and crystal chandelier hangs above a 57 inch round table custom designed by drysdale
a vivid green frieze around the molding introduces the butlers pantrypainted a startling acid green the sequencing of the rooms was important says drysdale i wanted each clearly defined
The kitchens bouquet of color takes a break at this custom console painted a welcoming white
The console designed by drysdale is accented with a greek inspired meander pattern
Of course the logical choice for the eating area would have been by the fireplace But not for drysdale or as she saw it for midler its easy to make an efficient kitchen she says but where do we go from there I want to have a warm kitchen where i can play with my dog read a book watch the cake bake and have my friends over But at the same time it should be glamorous seductive and special much like bette midler
here two 18th century italian ballroom chairs flank the drysdale designed secretary A figure by manuel neri stands guard
The secretary is ideal for a multipurpose workspace where a script or inspiring book is always within reach
The designer relaxes for a moment in the hearth area Behind her is gloria victis a 19th century french bronze
Want to see an entire house designed by mary douglas drysdale and filled with vibrant color Tour capitol hill renovation
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